Irish Eyes, from 'On a flesh and bone foundation': An Irish History, wrote a post about facts vs family lore, something that most family researchers will have to deal with at some point in their researching lives. (Also note she did a shout out for Reflections, but that is not why I am including in this post, I am including, because I have been there, done that, and it is a great post.) She also wrote a wonderful story about her father, ghosts, bikes and torches, at 'Cycling apparitions in the castle ruins': An Irish Story. Need a good chuckle, go read it!

Have you met Ernie?? NOOOO. Well, I had not either, till Greta highlighted him in her Follow Friday post on July 16th. Now that I have, shhhhh, now, don't tell Man, I just might be in love. At almost 89 years young, I adore his attitude and he has a great looking blog. Ernie cooks, gardens, blogs, he even fiddled (as the 'Sunflower Wrangler'). Go on over and meet Ernie, watch out all you dudes, your ladies may fall in love too!

All photos on this blog are those taken by Man or Moi, unless otherwise noted. Documents are either from some great genealogy site or are scans of originals I have turned up in my years of research. Other images should be accompanied by some kind of source data.

Please be courteous, if you borrow them, give us credit. We know you are clicking! Thank you, we are honored you care to borrow.

Creative License

About Me

Things I love: Family, Grandchildren, Rving, computers (sometimes, but not when they are being bad), family history, yorkies, techy toys like my iToys, photography.
I am all of these, so I write about them all, and more.

Photo courtesy of Deborah Flynn Guinther

If you surf in and see a name in your family tree, please contact me, best way, of course, is by email. You know the routine, change the AT and the DOT:
lashbrooke5 AT yahoo DOT com

Caring Bridge

Nonprofit organization for free websites for families to stay connected during serious illnesses.

Which Am I?

Am I a genealogist or a family historian?

Well, both of course, how can you be one without the other?

A family historian depends on the genealogist to supply the facts.

A genealogist depends on the family historian to tell the stories.

Genealogist, family historian, I am one in the same.

The bad towing machine: JGGBB4, Jolly Green Giant Big Butt 4.

Favorite sayings

" Living on Earth isn't cheap, but it does include a yearly free trip around the sun." (Source unknown.)

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." Theodore Roosevelt

"The only difference between a rut and a grave...is the depth."

Chinese proverb: "To forget one's ancestors is to be a brook without a source, a tree without a root."

"I sure wish they sold memory sticks for humans...I could use an upgrade."

"Don't let procrastination be your primary time management skill."

"If you are normal....no one will listen, If you're deranged....they will make you their leader."

"You're just jealous that the voices are talking to ME!"

"I'm quite sure that no friendship yields its true pleasure and nobility of nature without frequent communication, sympathy and service." (From George E. Woodberry)

"When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand." (From Henri Nouwen)

"Don't go where the road leads, rather go where there is no road and make a trail."

"Broken hearts are what give us strength, understanding and compassion."